Colonia teacher, coach charged with having sex with student

A physical education teacher at Colonia Middle School in Woodbridge who also had served as coach for Colonia High School's girls soccer team was arrested today on charges he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, authorities said.

A Woodbridge police officer found Craig Yarnall, 37, of Colonia, in a parked car with the 17-year-old girl Sunday during a routine check of a dark section of Merrill Park, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators later determined Yarnall had a sexual relationship with the girl that began in April, prosecutors said. Yarnall faces two second-degree charges of official misconduct and sexual assault. If convicted of either charge, he could face up to 10 years in state prison.

The Woodbridge Board of Education suspended Yarnall with pay after his arrest. Bail has not been set for Yarnall, prosecutors said.

Yarnall served as junior varsity soccer coach for the Colonia High School girls' team from September 2005 to September 2006, prosecutors said. He began working for the district in September 2003 as an adaptive physical education teacher for special education students at Colonia Middle School, Iselin Middle School, Woodbridge Middle School and JFK Memorial High School, prosecutors said.

Yarnall started his most recent position as physical education teacher for Colonia High in September 2005, prosecutors said.